THE STORIES, CHARACTERS, AND INSPIRATIONS

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HOLIDAY HALL (13th FLOOR)

Writers: MS Wulfgar, Jason Levering

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Characters: Nick, Logi

Formerly the finest ballroom of the 1920’s and 30’s, Holiday Hall at Benalto Tower (colloquially known as Holiday Tower) is just below the penthouse apartment and still retains a weathered beauty and nostalgic charm. It is cared for by Nick, the building superintendent and janitor. Nick is unassuming, but much more than he seems. He is from an old world. A world of magic and awe. He is the keeper of Logi, the Norse personification of fire, now manifested as a demonic yule log trapped in the old, ornate fireplace of the hall. Logi can autonomously light and extinguish, and although they are never able to leave the confines of the hearth (yet), they suggest, coax, and cajole– seeking to sow division and chaos to feed their flame.

 

APARTMENT #1B

Writers: Allana Pommier, Renzellous Brown

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Characters: Eshé, Khalifah, Maggee

Eshé carries the stressors of this life with her head held high, but braced for impact. She cares little for “society’s conditioned gestures” that come with the holiday season. Maggee is the life of the party, and self-elected leader of the group who tries to bring her friends out of the safety of their rooms to meet others who take life just as seriously, but with bliss. On Juneteenth, the roommates welcome a third, Khalifah– a singer. Khalifah is a non-traditional person who loves traditional standards, and although her voice is less frequently heard, she may very well hold the key to the future for all the tenants of the building. The three friends learn to trust each other while giving each other the space (and grace) to be themselves, all while letting their light shine on everyone else in their own ways.

 

APARTMENT #2B

Writer: MS Wulfgar

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Characters: Leyna, Clay, Marty  

Marty lives with his partner, Leyna, and her 18 year old son, Clay, who has recently recovered from major heart surgery several years prior. Leyna is a force of nature. A single mom for the past 10 years, she put herself through school and is now a successful video editor. Marty was a working musician whose career stalled during the pandemic, but, as the world returned to something close to normal, chose to leave his band in order to continue caring for Clay and support Leyna’s career. Although very much in love, Clay’s illness has become the central focus of their lives. Now a healthy young man, trying to find his own way, Clay resents their hovering (and Marty– for very different reasons), oblivious to the sacrifices made for him. Meanwhile, Marty and Leyna find themselves strangely distant from one another– not knowing why. In a nod to O’Henry’s Gift of the Magi, they both leverage deeply personal items in order to make a grand holiday gesture– missing the importance of communication.

 

APARTMENT #5E

Writer: Adam Bassing

 

Characters: Max, Charlie

Max and Charlie are a married couple living a content, comfortable life at the Tower. They share the feeling that they enjoy their neighbors and belong in their neighborhood—or so they thought. Slowly, Max, an Elder Care nurse, begins to reveal that the state of political and public discourse has caused him to retreat, not only inside himself, but in small (and not so small) gestures from his partner and the world. His not-entirely-unwarranted fear creates a divide between him and Charlie, who lovingly attempts to dispel his husband’s concerns. While at first the holiday party seems like another burden to Max, Charlie and their neighbors and an unlikely ally help heal his worried heart. 

 

APARTMENT #8G

Writers: Dulcie Mueller, MS Wulfgar

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Characters: Krampus, Mari Lywd, Jólakötturinn

The magical creatures/persons of Holiday Tower. Their personalities reflect their iconic holiday traditions and they connect a throughline between the tenants of the building, their apartments, and the string of holidays that knit the year together. Referred to as “the kids” by the owner of the Tower, these delightful spoilers live (unbeknownst to all) rent-free, although their contributions to the community pay forward untold value in a myriad of other ways.The cynicism of the modern world, unfortunately, begins to seep into their typically cheery disposition creating a momentary doubt that is commonplace to most people, but to them, potentially catastrophic. Their uncertainty fuels Logi’s ploy to divide the community leaving everyone in the building (and potentially beyond) vulnerable to the worst impulses of human nature.

 

APARTMENT (The Penthouse)

Writers: Maddie Radcliffe, MS Wulfgar

 

Characters: Sy, Abby, Rose

Seymour (Sy) is the owner/caretaker of Benalto Tower and the only non-magical person aware of Nick’s true nature, Logi’s presence, and the “kids” in 8G. Sy moved his family to the city over thirty years ago when he took over for the previous caretaker. He has been living in the building as long as any of the tenants can remember. Now older, his curmudgeonly exterior suggest he is the modern-day Scrooge—or is he? He seems to be dower and often talks to people who aren’t there (one in particular). Abby, his youngest daughter, lives with him and bears the weight of his mental decline. His elder daughters, Rose, happily (except to Abby) converges on them to help out, although her agenda goes deeper– with the best of intentions. The daughters history of involvement and the tact they take with Sy’s care create a very strained dynamic between the siblings.  This story is touching look at the dance of dignity inherent in eldercare and the toll it can take on a family—not only between child and parent, but between patient and caretaker.